Hollywood Shuffle
Seen it?1987 | 81 min | Comedy
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 21 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Aspiring actor and hot-dog stand employee Bobby Taylor catches the ire of his grandmother for auditioning for a role in the regrettably titled exploitation film "Jivetime Jimmy's Revenge." When Tinseltown Studios casts Taylor in the title role, he has a series of conflicted dreams satirizing African-American stereotypes in Hollywood, and must reconcile his career goals with his desire to remain a positive role model for his little brother.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$5 million worldwide on a $100K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 63K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Robert Townsend
- Robert TownsendBobby Taylor
- Craigus R. JohnsonStevie Taylor
- Helen MartinBobby's Grandmother
- Starletta DuPoisBobby's Mother
- Keenen Ivory WayansDonald
- Anne-Marie JohnsonLydia
- John WitherspoonMr. Jones
- Lou B. WashingtonTiny
- Steve JamesHood #3
- Christopher JacksonPunk #1